Kinebuchi Yakata
Kinebuchi-yakata is a fortified manor hall site in the Kinebuchi area of Shinonoi Township, Nagano Municipality. A large mound remains which is said to be part of the dorui (earthen ramparts), probably a corner segment, which surrounded the fort. This mound is quite large for a fortified manor hall.
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History
Kinebuchi-yakata was the fortified manor hall of the Kinebuchi Clan. It is thought to have been first built in the late Heian period, but it is unknown when the surviving earthworks date to. The Kinebuchi Clan were vassals of the Tobe Clan. According to the Genpei Seisuiki, Kinebuchi Shigemitsu, a vassal of Tobe Ietoshi, avenged his master's death at the battle of Yokotagawa in 1181, and then, surrounded by the enemy forces of Kiso Yoshinaka, committed suicide by jumping from his horse with a large sword in his mouth (I struggle to imagine the mechanics of such a suicide).
Field Notes
Kinebuchi-yakata is a fortified manor hall site in the Kinebuchi area of Shinonoi Township, Nagano Municipality. A large mound remains which is said to be part of the dorui (earthen ramparts), probably a corner segment, which surrounded the fort. This mound is quite large for a fortified manor hall. There is now a small shrine atop. The field below is where a moat would've ran.
To reach this site, which is in the countryside between Nagano downtown and Matushiro, I actually rented a pedal bicycle from a shop near Shinonoi station. I had to pick up the key at the convenience store across the road, then locate the bicycle in a parking area which was that morning hosting a festival and car boot sale. The bicycle had no gears and no electricity, but I had lots of fun going around on it in the nice weather across mostly flat countryside. I cannot recommend anyone replicate my little bike ride, however, as that old bicycle is apparently now out of commission, and it is no longer possible to rent bicycles in Shinonoi. Kinebuchi-yakata was one of several sites I went to that day which had some - but only some - extant dorui, and so the theme for the day became 'mounds and battle encampments'.
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| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Kinebuchi Yakata |
| Japanese Name | 杵淵館 |
| Founder | Kinebuchi Shigemitsu |
| Year Founded | Before 1181 |
| Castle Type | Fortified Manor |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Artifacts | Karabori, Dorui |
| Features | trenches |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Nagano Station; rental cycle |
| Hours | 24/7 free; shrine |
| Time Required | 20 minutes |
| Location | Nagano, Nagano Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 36.57366, 138.18209 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2023 |
| Contributor | ART |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Friends of JCastle | |
| Jōkaku Hōrōki | |
